The station is under growing pressure following a steep decline in its latest audience ratings. Listener numbers are down across all weekday programs, which has prompted internal discussions about potential host reshuffles by 2026. The breakfast show has slipped to a market share of 6.7%, its lowest in two years, while other key time slots have seen even sharper falls.
Weekday programming in Sydney is currently facing its weakest performance this year, with every major slot reporting declining ratings. ABC Radio Sydney, part of the national broadcaster’s metropolitan network, has long been a mainstay for news, interviews and talkback. However, this latest downturn has raised concerns about its ability to retain regular listeners amid increased competition and changes in listening habits.
Across the schedule, the figures show a clear downward trend. The morning show has dropped to 5.8%, afternoons have fallen to 5.2% and drive time has slipped to just 4.9%. The data, released by research firm GfK in its seventh survey of the year, highlights a broader performance decline for the station. One prominent host is set to step down in 2025 and with several others underperforming, a revamp of the Sydney lineup appears increasingly likely.
While Sydney’s performance lagged, results in other cities were mixed. Melbourne’s breakfast show improved, reaching a 7.8% market share and Adelaide had a modest rise to 10.3%. In contrast, Perth and Brisbane experienced ongoing declines across all key programs. This suggests a national pattern of falling audience numbers for the ABC. Commercial competitors such as KIIS FM also saw setbacks, particularly in Melbourne, pointing towards broader shifts in how audiences engage with radio.
The mounting pressure on ABC Radio Sydney could result in dramatic changes, with a full overhaul of the schedule likely in 2026. The ratings slump raises key questions about how traditional radio can evolve in response to digital disruption, new talent strategies and increasingly fragmented listening behaviours.
